A brand new mixtape and No. 7 album from Detroit, Michigan veteran Boldy James. He rose to prominence in the fall of 2013 with his Alchemist-produced debut album M.1.CS (My 1st Chemistry Set), which Nas’ indie label Mass Appeal Records had on the roster for a while before being locked out. Once back home, Uncle Al will release the Boldface EP around Christmas 2019, followed by a second album, The Price of Tea in China, which will help him regain his fame. “Manger on McNichols”, produced by Sterling Toles, is equally good, while the Versace Tape EP, backed by Griselda Records, is a bit of a letdown because of its rushed production. However, “Bo Jackson” would go down as his most critically acclaimed work to date, and “Super Tecmo Bo” is almost as good for an EP. Fair Exchange No Robbery, Penalty of Leadership by Nicholas Craven, Mr. Ten-08 by Futurewave, Across the Tracks by Conductor Williams, The Fration by Harryod The Fration and Hidden in Plain Sight (Hidden in Plain Sight) produced by Wood Anthony were both warmly received. The Chuck Strangers-produced “Token of Appciation” was far better than both “Murder Within Drug Traffic” and “Permanent Ink,” the Antt Beatz-produced “Hommage” divisive people, although I didn’t mind, and “Late to My Own Funeral” appeared on the V Don-produced “Alphabet Highway” and the Killing Nothing sequel “Conversational Pieces” respectively. Following the conclusion of his Roc Nation Records debut album, Criminally Attached, he and Craven will revisit the album with Trapper’s Alley 3: Hell or High Water.
Second and final single “Summer’s Eve” opens with a soul sample about seeing so many people leave that he no longer fears death, while 218bojay’s “Mama Maxine” maintains a drum-less vibe, ensuring that anyone who gets involved with them will end up in a trauma unit. “My Last Try” blends chipmunk soul with “boom bap” themes, before “Beautiful Snow” finds Chip$ and Dave Hill getting into their coke rap bags.
“False Allegations” reaches the midpoint of the tape, fondly recalling a moment in his life when he was incarcerated for a crime he didn’t commit. At one point, “Burger Helper” starring Chip$ reunites the two for round two as they talk gorgeously about counting all the extra money they have. “Powerhouse” starring Chip$ and Lethalias Grain finds the trio asking if having gardening skills makes them gardeners and crack cocaine is harder than power boxing.
The song “Grinding My Gears” wraps up Trapper’s Alley 3: Hell or High Water’s final moments with an affectionate account of how he never imagined making a career out of his criminal past, while “Don’t Tell Me (Trinidadian James)” shows that his entire team is in the heavyweight class. Lead single “Death & Taxes” ends with a drum-less gangsta rap that explains there are only two things in this world we can’t escape.
Whenever I work with Nicholas Craven on an entire project, Boldy James doesn’t disappoint, which is the main reason why I usually admire their material so much, but if you wanted to include a newer example, I would definitely put “Trapper’s Alley 3: Hell or High Water” with “Fair Exchange No Robbery & Penalty of Leadership” or “Late to Myn Fuery & Penalty of Leadership” or “Late to Myn Fuery & Penalty of Leadership” or “Late to Pedestal”. Craven’s drumless, jazzy but soulful production and Boldy’s gangster/coke rap are like Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen, although the guest list may be a bit spotty.
Score: 7/10
